Pillow or head-rest



(No Model.) H. W. HILLER.

PILLOW 0R HEAD REST. No. 247,823. Patented Oct. 4,1881.

Fig.1.

INVENTURI /%W as $42,, Q W

ATTESTI U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \V. HILLER, OF HUDSON, NEW YORK.

PILLOW OR HEAD-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,823, dated October 4, 1881.

Application filed November 2,1880. (No model.) i

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. HILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hudson, Columbia county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Pillows or Head-Rests, of which the following is a speci-- fication.

My invention relates to that class of pillows or head-rests which are distended with air, and which are designed mainly as temporary head-rests for travelers, being adapted most particularly for use in railway-cars.

The invention consists in the distinctive features hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of my improved pillow or head-rest, the former showing the front and the latter the back of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pillow or head-rest, shown as secured to the arm of a car-seat. Fig. etis amodification, which will be referred to hereinafter.

My pillow or head-rest may be constructed of any of the well-known materials employed for air bags or cushions-such as rubber, rubber-cloth, silk, Japanese paper, &c.the only requirements being that it shall be light, have sufficient strength, and be air-tight; and to cause it to retain its proper shape when inflated it may, if necessary, have inside stays of tape or other suitable material. The object is to give the pillow or head-rest such a form that when inflated it will present an angular recess or re-enterin g angle to fit over the arm or back of a car or chair seat or rest upon the ledge of a window. To this end I construct the pillow or head-rest substantially as represented in the drawings, the horizontal part A or pillow proper branching, by preference, at about a right angle from the vertical part or cushion B. The part B tapers, by preference, down to an edge at a, and to this edge are attached fastening-straps b, which extend up to and are fastened also to the under side of A, near the angle. To these are attached short straps c, and to other short straps are fixed the buckles d. The pillow or head-rest is inflated by blowing airinto it at the mouth-piece 0. This mouth-piece or air-inlet may be attached to the pillow or headrest at any point, and may consist ofa simple screw-threaded tube with a screw-cap to fit over or intoit. I make no claim to this feature.

In Fig. 3 I have shown how the pillow or head-rest may be attached to the ,arm of a carseat. The part A is placed upon the arm G of the seat, and the short straps c-passed under the arm and secured to the buckles d. This holds the pillow or headrest firmly in place, and it thus serves to form a soft and yielding rest for the head, the part B serving to protect the shoulders and back. When the pillow or head-rest is placed on the back of the seat it may be fastened by passing the straps 1) down between the seat and back and then bringing them up to the buckles d, where they are fastened.

To secure the pillow or head-rest to the sill or ledge of a car-window it is only necessary to allow the sash to drop upon tabs g, secured to the edge of the pillow or head-rest, (see Fig. 2,) and the latter will be held in place, the part A being supported on the sill.

The pillow or head-rest might be made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 4, these parts be ing connected by a flexible hinge at h; but I preferit in one piece, as in the first three figures.

In addition to its employment as a pillow or head-rest for use as described, my invention might be employed as a bed or sofa pillow, and when collapsed it may be rolled or folded up in a small compass, so as to be carried in the pocket or valise.

The arrangement of the straps and fasteningsshowu need not be rigidly adhered to. It is obvious that they may be arranged in various ways, and one or more straps may be employed.

If not inflated too much, my pillow or headrest will readily adapt itself to curves and irregularities in the part to which it is attached.

I am fully aware that air cushions and pillows, both square and annular, have been long in use, as well as annular life-preservers of a similar character, and I make no claim to these. I am also aware that padded head and body rests have been before used for car-seats, dental chairs, 850.; butI am not aware that any of these have been constructed similar to my invention, and, not being collapsible, they cannot be reduced in bulk and made so portable as my cushion.

Having thus fully describedmy invention and set forth its distinctive features, I claim- 1. A pillow or head-rest made of some airtightfabric, provided with an air-inletforinflating it, and having two extensions or branches at an angle to each other, as shown, for the purpose set forth.

2. A pillow or head-rest made of some airtightfabric, provided with an air-inlet t'orinflating it, and having two extensions or branches, A and B, at an angle to each other, the part B being of a wedge shape or of tapering form, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an air pillow or head-rest constructed in an angular form, as shown, and adapted to be hung on the windowledge of a car, of the tabs 9, secured to one of 20 the branches of thepillow, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereofI have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY W. HILLER.

Witnesses:

HENRY GoNNn'rr, Gno. BAINTON. 

